Tack supplying device



June 4, 1935. w. T.'B. ROBERTS 2,003,391

TACK SUPPLYING DEVICE V Filed Jan. 2'7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 4, 1935. w; 'r. B; ROBERTS TACK SUPPLYING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 File& Jan 2'7, 1952 June 4, 1935.

w. T. B. ROBERTS TACK SUPPLYING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2'7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wlmMpm Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED, STATES PATENT orFrcE England, assignor to United sime Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 27, 1932, Serial No. 589,251

a In Great Britain February fi 1931 18 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to devices for supplying fastenings and is illustrated herein with reference to a device whereby a single fasteningis made available to an operator.

In certain operations in the manufacture of boots and shoes it is sometimes desirableto insert fastening s by hand. The operator in such cases either picks up a fastening from-a pile on a bench or ina box or takes fastenings from his mouth. In either case small fastenings are awk- Ward objects to pick up from a pile either with the jaws of a pair of lasting pincers or with the hand holding the pincers; If the operator keeps a supply of tacks in his mouth, a procedure which from several points of view is undesirable, the operator is still confronted with the difficulty of positioning the tack before it is inserted in the work.

An object of this invention accordingly is to provide an improved device whereby'fastenings can be made available to the operator without the inconvenience and loss of time following from the use of prior methods and devices. In. accordance with this object the invention in one aspect provides an improved fastening supplying device including a fastening receiving means arranged to engage the points of separated fastenings in a raceway and to move'the .fastenings to a position where the fastenings can conveniently be removed from the fastening receiving means. As illustrated the fastening receiving means cornprises a pair of rolls rotating in opposite directions and positioned adjacent to the'end of a slotted raceway so that when a tack or" other fastening is delivered to the end of "the raceway the rotation of the rolls will cause the point of the fastening to be driven into one of the rolls and when the tack has been moved to its proper position the rolls will stop rotating until the tack or fastening has been removed.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the illustrative tack supplying apparatus, a cover plate being removed to expose certain mechanism; 1

Figure 2 is a right-hand side elevation, the base of the apparatus not being shown;

Figure 3 is a View on an enlarged-scale in th direction of the arrow III: in Figure 2 of tackseparating mechanism of the apparatus; and

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus, the basenot being shown.

The illustrated tack supplying apparatus comprises a base it having two upwardly extending arms if to which arms is pivoted a frame I4 having a forwardly projecting portion 16 on which are mounted two tack receiving and presenting rolls I8 and 20. The frame I4 is normally held in the position shown in the accompanying drawings but it can be turned upwardly about its pivot should it be desired to empty the apparatus of tacks-. The upper tack presenting roll 18 is of hard rubber andis mounted on a shaft 22 by means of a nut 24. The lower roll 20 isof wood and is mountedon a shaft 26 by means of a nut 28. The shaft 22 upon which the upper roll is mounted is rotatable in a bearing formed in the portion i8 of the frame while the shaft 26 carrying the lower roll is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 2 9 housed in a block 30, which block is movable in a-vertical slideway32 on the lower part of the-portion l6 of theframe. The ends of the sleeve 29 project some distance beyond the sides 7 of theblock 3B. The position of the block- 30 with respect to the frame and so the position of the lower roll 213 with respect to the upper roll I8 is adjustable by means of a screw 34 in threaded relation with the bottom of the block 33 and between two integral collars 36 on which extends the yoked end of a member 38 fixed to the portion 16 of the frame.

The left-hand side of the forwardly projecting portion 1 6 of the frame is, as is shown in Figure 1', formed as a casing for roll operating mechanism hereinafter described. A cover plate closes this casing to protect the said mechanism from damage. Mounted in bearings 4!! within the casing is a vertically extending shaft 42. On this shaft 42 are formed two worms 44 and 46, the upper 44 of which engages with a worm wheel 48 fixed to the left-hand end of the shaft 22 carrying the upper r011 l8, and the lower 46 of which engages with a worm wheel 59fixed to the left-hand end of the shaft 26 carrying the lower roll 20. The worms and 46 are threaded in oppositedirections so that rotation of the shaft 42 serves to turn the rolls I 8 and 20 in opposite directions. Mounted in bearings in the arms 12 .of the base I 0 is a horizontal shaft 52, the arrangement being such that this shaft also passes through bearings in the frame 44 and so serves as the pivotal connection between the. arms I2 and'the frame l4. Upon the left-hand end of the shaft 52 are fast and loose pulleys 54 whereby the shaft may be driven from an external source of power. Upon the shaft 52 is fixed a bevel gear which meshes with a, bevel gear 56 mounted upona forwardly and rearwardly extending horizontal shaft 58 rotatable in bearings inside the said casing. Near the forward end of the shaft 58 a sleeve 68 is rotatably mounted, which sleeve, through clutch mechanism hereinafter to be described, can be rotated with or freed from driving connection with the shaft 58. Upon the sleeve 68 is formed a bevel gearing 62 meshing with another bevel gear 64 fixed to the lower end of the shaft 42 so that, when the clutch is engaged, the rolls l8 and 28 are both driven from the shaft 52' through the train of mechanism just described. Extending between the upper rollI 8 and the lower roll 28 is the lower end 66 of a raceway 68, to the upper end of which raceway tacks are supplied by any suitable mechanism. As is common, the raceway is provided with a slot arranged to receive the shanks of the line or row of fastenings in the raceway. As shown in Figure 2 a part I8 near the lower end 66 of the raceway is curved on its upper surface to a radius equal to that of the upper roll I8 and is practically in contact with the peripheral surface of the top roll. The lower side of theend 660i the raceway is cutaway to provide clearance forthe lower roll 28. The arrangement is such that when a tack reaches the lower end of the raceway its head comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the upper (rubber) roll I8. Supposing this roll to be rotating clockwise as seen in Figure 2 the tack will be carried on by the roll. Now the adjustment of the apparatus is always such that the distance between the peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower rolls at their nearest point of approach is less than the length of tack in use. Hence as the tack is carried on by the upper roll it will soon reach a position at which its point comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the lower roll 28 which roll' is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2 with the same peripheral speed as that of the upper roll I8. When this takes place, since the tack cannot move upwardly on account of the contact of its head with the upper roll, the tack will as it is carried on be forced for some way into the lower roll. In fact it will be recognized that the tack will continue to be pushed into the lower roll until the position is reached in which the tack bridges the shortest distance between the rolls. After this position has been reached, as therolls continue to rotate the tack will remain with its point inserted into the lower roll and will 'be carried off the end of the raceway sticking into this roll. It will be noted in Figure 2 that the extreme end portion of the raceway is curved downwardly so that the head of a tack being carried off the raceway with its point sticking into the lower roll will not catch against the raceway as it would do if the distance from the point I2 on the end of the raceway to the surface of the lower roll was greater than the shortest distance between the rolls. The forward surface of the lower roll 28 is covered by a plate -'I4 in which is cut a slot to provide clearance for a tack travelling' with the roll 28. The plate is very close to the surface of the roll so that the head of a'tack inserted in the roll projects well from the surface of the plate.

The illustrated apparatus is equipped with mechanism whereby when once a tack has been inserted into the lower roll '28 and has been carried round a certain distance by the roll, the rotation of the rolls is stopped. For this purpose a light finger 78 extending almost across the peripheral surface of the lower roll and located practically in contact with that surface is provided. This finger is supported at its left-hand end on an arm I8 projecting from the right-hand side of a member 88 freely pivoted upon the projecting ends of the sleeve 29 which forms a bearing for the shaft 28. At the left-hand side of the member 88 is a downwardly extending arm 82, a pin 84 projecting from which, engages in a slot in the upper end of a bent arm 86 (Figure 4) The bent arm 86 is rigidly attached at its lower end to a bell crank lever 88 pivoted at 98 to the frame. From the rear arm of the bell crank lever 88 projects a pin 92 which engages in an annular groove 94 formed in a clutch member 96 slidable upon the shaft 58 and always rotating therewith through the engagement of co-operating dogs 88, I88 respectively formed on the rear end of the clutch member 96 and on a collar I82 rigidly fixed by means of a set-screw I84 upon the shaft 58. At the forward end of the clutch member 86 is formed another dog I84 of shorter extent than the'dog 98 which can co-operate with a corresponding dog formed on the rear end of the sleeve 68. The arrangement is such that the clutch member 96 normally takes up a position as far forward on the shaft 58 as is possible. In this position'the dog I84 is in engagement with the corresponding dog on the sleeve 68 and therolls I8 and 28 are driven from the shaft 58.

'Now suppose. that in the manner already explained a tack is inserted into the lower roll and is carried by that roll clear of the end of the raceway. The tack will be carried into contact with the finger I6 and will serve to depress that finger. This depression will cause the member 88 to turn clockwise, (as seen in Figure 1) about the sleeve 28 on which it is pivoted and, through the pin 84 and arm 86, the bell crank lever 88 will be turned counter-clockwise about its pivot 98. This will cause the pin 92 to slide the clutch member 96 rearwardly along the shaft 58 so that the dog I84 is disengaged and the sleeve 88 is no longer driven. Thus the driving connection to the rolls is broken and the rolls remain stationary with the tack sticking out of the bottom roll until such time as the tack is withdrawn. When this is done the finger I6 is allowed to move upwardly into its initial position and the clutch re-engages so that the rolls are once more rotated until another tack from the raceway has been inserted into the lower roll and has been carried forwardly by that roll to depress the finger I5 again and so to disengage the clutch.

Theapparatus is provided with tack separating means now to be described which are operated automatically to ensure that only one tack at a time is supplied to the rolls I8 and 28.

The tack separating means (shown particularly in Figure 3) is located about half way up the raceway 68 to the top end of which tacks are supplied by any suitable means so that a number of tacks are always in the raceway immediately above the separating means. The separating means comprises a saddle-shaped member 266 pivoted on a pin I88 passing through the lefthand side of the raceway 68 to the top surface of which member two tack separating fingers H8 and H2 are attached by screws I14 and H8 respectively. The separating fingers H8 and H2 are provided respectively with sharp separating points .I I8'and :28 adapted to lie across the path of tacks down the raceway. The separating points are located in a plane parallel with the tack head supporting surfacecf the raceway and slightly below that surface, the raceway being cut away at I22 to provide clearance for the points. The cut-away space in which the separating points move is covered by two plates I24 and 25 screwed to the raceway and at the adjacent edges of these plates are formed narrow flanges I28 and E38 which lie in the same plane as the remainder of the raceway surface so that the tack head supporting surfaceof the raceway is vertically continuous and as tacks come down the raceway, supported by their heads, their proper downward sliding movement is not in any way interfered with by any irregularity in the surface on which their heads slide due to the raceway being cutaway at 122. The separating points 2 l8 and i are separated from each other, lengthwise of the raceway; by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the shank of a tack just below the head of the tack and the said points both lie substantially in the same line in this direction. An oscillatory movement may be imparted to the separating points I Hi and I2!) by means of a projecting lever I32 formed integral with, and on the left-hand side of the saddleshaped member which lever I32 has formed in it, at its left-hand extremity, a slot I34. Engaging the slot 534 is a pin I36 carried by the right-hand end of a lever 38Qwhich lever I38 is pivoted substantially midway of its length by a screw Mil to the forwardly projecting portion I5 of the frame it. At the left-hand end of the lever I33 are two ears I the plane of the slot formed between said ears being parallel with the tack head supporting surface of the raceway. In the slot between the said ears I 42 the upper and rearward end of an actuating rod M4 is pivoted to the lever E38 by means of a pin I 46. The lower and forward end of the rod 544 is pivotally attached to the forked end of the forward of the bell crank lever #38 by means of a pin Hi8. It will thus be appreciated that when the bell crank lever 88 turns about its pivot upon the opening or engagement of the clutch movement is communicated to the actuating rod I44 which will in turn cause movement of the tack separating fingers l Ill and H2.

Now suppose a tack has been inserted in the lower (wooden) roll and the bell crank lever is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to open the clutch as hereinbefore described. The rod I 34 will be pushed upwardly and rearwardly which will cause the lever I38 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the pivot I46 as viewedin Figure 3. It will be apparent that the saddle-shaped member I85 and the tack separating points I I8 and I2!) will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot I 03 and the separating point I20 will be. moved out of the path of the tacks in the raceway while the point H8 will be moved into the path of the tacks. The tacks in the raceway are thus allowed a limited movement downwardly toward the tack engaging rolls i8 and 29. Upon the withdrawal of the tack from the lower roll is, the clutch is rte-engaged and the tack separating points i8 and I 20 are turned by means described below in a clockwise direction, and since the distance, lengthwise or" the raceway, between the separating points H8 and I20 is only slightly greater than the diameter of the shark of a tack just below the head, a single tack will be liberated and allowed to slide down the raceway 58, toward the tack engaging rolls i8 and 2! where the said tack will be pressed into the lower roll 2E and will subsequently be instrumental in tripping the clutch as hereinbefore described; For the purpose of turning the tack separating points H8 and I20 in a clockwise direction upon the withdrawal of a tack from the lower roll (and incidentally for ensuring that the clutch is re-engaged and the finger l5 raised) there is formed integral with and extending toward the right from the saddle-shaped member I06, an arm I50 to which is attached the upper end of a tension spring I52, the lower end of which spring is anchored to a pin I54 projecting normally from the underside of the raceway 68.

The means for supplying tacks to the upper end of the raceway 68 may consist of any well-known form of tack-pot such for example as is com monly used in bed-lasting machines for keeping the hand tackerof such machines loaded with tacks.

The. operation of the apparatus will have become quite evident from the foregoing description. When the apparatus is running, a tack is normally in inserted position in the lower roll 20 and by keeping the finger l6 depressed serves to keep the clutch disengaged and so the rolls I8 and 2B stationary. The tack will project through the slot in the plate I4 and, its head standing well clear of the surface of the plate, it will be in a very convenient position to be taken up by an operator when required, either by the aid of pincers or otherwise. The distance between the upper roll is and the lower roll 20 should be adiusted in accordancewith the length of tack in use sothat the penetration of a tack into thelower roll, while sufficient to retain the tack in place in the roll is not such that appreciable force is required to withdraw the tack from the roll. Im-

me-diately a tack is withdrawn a new tack is set free by the separating means, the clutch engages to set the rolls in rotation and thisinew tack is inserted into the lower roll, carried around to open the clutch and thereafter in its turn remains projecting through the slot in the plate until required.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a slotted raceway arranged to support a line of fastenings, a separator arranged to control the passage of fastenings toward the end of the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, and means arranged to engage the points of the separated fastenings in the raceway and to move the fastenings to a position where they may conveniently be removed therefrom.

2. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination a raceway having a slot for receiving the shanks of fastenings, a separator connected to said raceway and arranged to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, and means connected to the separator constructed and arranged to engage the points of separated fastenings in the end of the raceway and to move the fastenings to a point removed from the raceway.

3. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a'slotted raceway arranged to receive a line of fastening-s, a separator arranged to control the passage of the fastenings toward the end of the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one and means co-operating with the separator tosupport the fastenings and to remove the fastenings from the end of the raceway, said means being so constructed and arranged that the removal of afastening from said means willoperate the separator to permit an-,

other fastening to be delivered to said means.

4. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator arranged to control the fastenings in the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, and a pair of members located adjacent to the end of the racewayfor carrying the fastenings away'from the raceway, said members being so constructed and arranged that the points of the fastenings are inserted in one of said members whereby the fastenings are positioned for convenient removal from said member.

5. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway having a slot arranged to receive the shanks of a line of fastenings, a separator arranged to control the fastenings in the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, a pair of members located adjacent to the end of the raceway for carrying the fastenings away from the raceway, means for moving said members, and means located in the path of movement of said fastenings for stopping said members at a point where the fastenings may be removed from said members.

6. A device for. supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator arranged to control fastenings in the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, fastening receiving means located adjacent to the end of the raceway and constructed and arranged to move the fastenings away from the raceway, and means adapted to be engaged by the fastenings to limit the movement of the fastenings, said lastmentioned means being arranged upon removal of the fastening on the fastening receiving means 7 to co-operate with the separator to cause another fastening to be separated from the fastenings in the raceway.

7. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a slotted raceway, a separator having a pair of fingers pivotally mounted on a single pivot and arranged to subject into the slot in the raceway to control the passage of the fastenings along said raceway, means for receiving a fastening from said raceway and for carrying said fastening away from the raceway, and means controlled by the removal of the fastening from the fastening receiving means for rocking the separator about its'pivot to cause another fastening to be delivered to said fastening receiving means.

8. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator arranged to control the fastenings in the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, a pair of rolls located adjacent to the end of the raceway to receive and insert the point of a fastening in one of said rolls and to move said fastening to a position away from said raceway.

9. A device for supplying fastenings comprising a raceway, a separator arranged tocontrol the fastenings in the raceway and topermit the fastenings to pass one by one, an upper roll located adjacent to the end of the raceway to engage a fastening and to move said fastening to a position away from said raceway, a lower roll located adjacent to the end of the raceway and below the upper roll a distance less than the length of the'fastenings and arranged to receive the fastening from said upper roll, and means actuated by the removal of the fastening on the lower roll to permit rotation of said rolls and for moving the separator to permit another fastening to be delivered to said rolls.

10. A device 'for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway having a slot arranged to receive a line of fastenings, a separator projecting into said slot in said raceway and arranged to permit the fastenings to pass one by one in the raceway, a fastening receiving member arranged to engage a fastening in said raceway and to move the fastening away from the raceway, and means connecting the separator and the fastening receiving member arranged upon the removal of a fastening from the fastening receiving member to deliver another fastening to the receiving member.

11. In a device for supplying fastenings, a raceway, a separator arranged to control the passage of fastenings one by one in said raceway, a pair of rolls located adjacent to an end of the raceway, means for intermittently rotating said rolls, said rolls being arranged when rotated to receive between them a fastening from the raceway and to insert the point of the fastening in one of said rolls, and a member located in the path of movement of the fastening on the roll and arranged when engaged by the fastening to stop the rotation of the rolls and, when the fastening on the roll is removed, to co-operate with the separator to separate another fastening from the fastenings in the raceway.

12. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator having a pair of fingers pivotally mounted on a single pivot and arranged to control the passage of the fastenings along said raceway, a pair of rolls located adjacent to the end of the raceway and spaced from each other a distance less than the length of the fastening in the raceway, said rolls being constructed and arranged when rotated to cause the point of the fastening to enter the periphery of one of said rolls and to move the fastening to a position away from the end of the raceway, and an arm located in the path of movement of the fastening and adapted to be engaged by the fastening, said arm being arranged when engaged by the fastening to stop the rotation of the rolls and, upon removal of the fastening, to co-operate with the separator to separate another fastening from the fastenings in the raceway.

13. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator arranged to control the passage of the fastenings in the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, a member located adjacent to the end of the raceway arranged to receive the point of a fastening and to move the fastening away from the raceway, and means adapted to be engaged by the fastening in said member to control the movement of said member.

14. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator arranged to control the fastenings in the raceway and to permit the fastenings to pass one by one, a pair of cooperating rolls located adjacent to the end of the raceway for receiving between them a fastening from the raceway and for moving the fastening away from the end of the raceway, and means adapted to be engaged by the fastening to stop the fastening at a point where the fastening may readily be removed, said last-mentioned means being arranged to co-operate with the separator and with the rolls upon removal of the fastening from one of the rolls to permit a fastening to be delivered to said rolls and to rotate said rolls.

15. In a device for supplying fastenings, a race- Way, a separator arranged to control the passage of fastenings one by one in said raceway, an upper roll, a lower roll located adjacent to the end of the raceway and below the upper roll a distance less than the length of the fastenings, said rolls being arranged to rotate in opposite directions and to receive between them a fastening which is inserted in one of the rolls by the action of the other roll whereby the fastening is moved from the raceway, and means adapted to be engaged by the fastening to stop the rotation of the rolls.

16. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator arranged to control the passage of fastenings along said raceway, a pair of rolls located adjacentto the end of the raceway, said rolls being constructed and arranged when rotated to cause the point of the fastening to enter the periphery of one of said rolls and to move the fastening to a position from the end of the raceway, an arm located in the path of movement of the fastening and adapted to be engaged by the fastening, and a clutch member connected to said rolls and to said arm whereby movement imparted to the arm by the fastening causes the clutch to be disengaged thereby stopping the rotation of the rolls.

1?. A device for supplying fastenings having,

in combination, a raceway, a separator arranged to separate a fastening from the fastenings in the raceway and then to release said fastening, a pair of rolls located adjacent to the end of the raceway and spaced from each other a distance less than the length of the fastening in the raceway, said rolls being constructed and arranged when rotated to move the fastening away from the end of the raceway, and an arm located in the path of movement of the fastening and adapted to be engaged by the fastening, said arm being constructed and arranged when engaged by the fastening to co-operate with the separator to permit the fastenings in the raceway to move toward the end of the raceway and when the fastening is removed from said roll to permit the separator to return to its original position to separate a fastening from the fastenings in the raceway and to deliver the separated fastening to said rolls.

18. A device for supplying fastenings having, in combination, a raceway, a separator having a pair of fingers pivotally mounted on a single pivot and arranged to control the passage of fastenings along said raceway, the fingers of said separator being spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the shank of the fastening below the head of the fastening whereby movement of the separator in one direction will permit the, endmost fastening in the raceway to be moved between the fingers and movement of the separator in the other direction will engage the next fastening and permit the endmost fastening to move down the raceway, a pair of rolls located adjacent to the end of the raceway and spaced from each other a distance less than the length of the fastening in the raceway, said rolls being constructed and arranged when rotated to cause the point of the fastening to enter the periphery of one of said rolls and to move the fastening to a position away from the end of the raceway, a clutch member constructed and arranged intermittently to rotate said rolls, an arm located in the path of movement of the fastening and adapted to be engaged by the fastening, and connections between the arm, the clutch and the separator, said arm being constructed and arranged when engaged by the fastening to stop the rotation of the rolls and to co-operate with the separator to permit the fastenings in the raceway to move toward the end of the raceway and when the fastening is removed from said roll to permit the separator to return to its original position to separate another fastening and to deliver a fastening to said rolls.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS. 

